It is an honor to stand before you today. I come to you with a grateful heart. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and for his Beloved Son, whose grace and power have blessed my life. I am grateful for President and Sister Wilkes and Elder and Sister Kerr and the kindness and support they have given to Sue and me. I am grateful for my family, and for Sue, who is the love of my life. In a week we will celebrate our thirty-fourth anniversary, and I thank God every day for her. I am also grateful for this wonderful opportunity that has come to Sue and me. Thank you for coming today to listen to us talk, to share with us your love of this university and your faith and prayers.
I would like to share with you today some things I have learned from my experience and from the scriptures about learning and about schools. I speak today from the heart about things that I love.
From the time I was a little boy growing up in Salt Lake City, to this very day, I have loved school. I love to learn, to discover new things. And I love to teach. Schools and education have a special place in my heart and, I believe, a special place in the Restoration and in the Kingdom of God.
I would like to begin with two of my favorite scriptures: the first is from the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants; the second is from the 17th chapter of Alma.
The 88th section is one of the most important revelations of the Restoration about learning, education, and the gospel. There is a phrase in verse 78 that I would like to talk about today. In this section the Lord commands us to teach each other the doctrines of the kingdom and to seek learning, by study and by faith. If we seek and teach with diligence, He gives us this marvelous promise in verse 78:
Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
The phrase I want to focus on today is my grace shall attend you. That marvelous promise extends to all of the things you study at this university. Whether you are studying the gospel, or mathematics, or music, or history, or computer networking, the Lord will bless you to learn by study and by faith. We have in the Book of Mormon a great example of these principles in action in the experience of the sons of Mosiah. Turn with me to the 17th chapter of Alma, verse 2. This is Mormon’s description:
Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.[1]
The sons of Mosiah had sought knowledge of the truth, and they had obtained it in just the way the Lord outlined for each of us. In fact, Mormon’s description of what they did provides a pattern for all of us who seek learning by study and by faith. Here is the pattern:
1. Make and keep sacred covenants with the Lord
The sons of Mosiah had been set apart by their father to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. When Alma met them fourteen years later they had been true to the covenants they had made. They were still his brethren in the Lord.
2. Search diligently
The sons of Mosiah had searched the scriptures diligently. This means that they had not only read them, but also pondered them. That is why they were men of sound understanding. That is why they waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth.
3. Seek the Spirit through fasting and prayer
The sons of Mosiah did more than study and think about what they read. They sought the guidance of the Spirit through prayer. They went further and prepared themselves to receive the ministry of the Spirit by fasting. Because they were obedient and diligent, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ attended them. They received the spirit of prophecy and of revelation; and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.
This is the pattern the Lord has given us. It comes with a powerful promise; and I know that when the Lord says, “my grace shall attend you,” He is giving us a true promise.
Let me share with you three personal experiences that have taught me about the Savior’s grace, and about learning by study and by faith. I share these personal experiences in the spirit of Alma 26.[2] Though they are personal, they are really about the hand of the Lord and his strength in our lives.
The first story occurred many years ago when I was in graduate school studying economics. I took a course from a very famous and prominent professor named John Dunlop. I studied hard in that course, and I prepared diligently for the final exam. I also prayed for help and guidance. The day for the exam came. The final exam in that course was unusual. Instead of giving us essay questions or problems to work, Professor Dunlop simply gave us two recently published papers and asked us to critique them. I began to read. As I read, I experienced something I will never forget. I saw clearly, as though someone had laid it all out before me, exactly what the authors were trying to do, where the weaknesses in their argument were, and what I should write about their work. I began to write. I wrote and wrote and wrote. The words just flowed. It was like there was a conduit running from my brain down my arm through my hand into the pen and onto the paper. It felt like the words were just flowing down the conduit. I then picked up the second paper, and the same thing happened. I knew as it happened that the Lord had blessed me beyond my own ability. I experienced what the Prophet Joseph once called “pure intelligence” flowing from the Spirit to teach me and help me. At the end of that exam I knew that what was written in those blue books was beyond my own capacity.
It has been 31 years since that experience. I have had that experience many times since. I hope and pray that I shall have it many times in the future. As I look back on the day of that exam, I can see the hand of the Lord at work. Because of that exam Professor Dunlop opened many doors for me. Those experiences bear witness to me of the truth of the promises of the Lord, and of the importance of seeking knowledge and learning by study and by faith.
The first story was about the power of the Spirit in the individual mind and heart of the student. The second story took place many years later. It is about learning and teaching in the classroom. By the time of this story I had joined the faculty at the business school at Harvard and was teaching a class on managing technology and operations. One day we taught a case on Honda. The CEO of Honda, a man named Kawamoto, sat in on my class. The case that day dealt with a very narrow, technical issue about the design of the engine for a new Honda car. The issue was: should we choose an existing design with a small bore and a long stroke, or should we go with a new design with a wider bore and a shorter stroke. There were a lot of data on the costs involved and a lot of background on the internal debates and positions. It was a hotly debated issue in the company.
Let me set the stage for you. There were 90 students in the classroom. I called on a woman named Kim Coupanas to start the class. She was fabulous. She laid out the issues, made a decision, and backed it up—all in about five minutes. I asked her a couple of follow-up questions and then turned to the class for their reactions. There must have been 30 hands in the air. In that moment, something truly remarkable happened. Over the next 75 minutes, the students in that class tore that case apart. They went deeper and deeper into the implications of the choice. My role was like that of an orchestra conductor. I called on students, asked an occasional question, summarized, and managed some transitions. But the students carried the whole class. They made comments, challenged each other, debated each other, taught each other, clarified, added to, and kept taking us deeper. It became clearer and clearer that what appeared to be a technical choice, with financial implications, was in fact a deeply strategic, fundamental choice for Honda. This was a choice about the company’s character, about the integrity of its promises and what it stood for. The stakes were high, and the students were really engaged. Remember this was a business class about engine design. But I felt a good spirit in that room, and it was an exhilarating 80 minutes. At the end of the class, Kawamoto-san was stunned. He told me that he was absolutely amazed that those students could get that deep with that much power. It was an extraordinary learning experience.
What happened in that class was, I believe, a gift. It came in part through the Light of Christ that is given to everyone. And it came in part because we were dealing with a true principle, i.e., “. . . out of small things proceedeth that which is great.”[3] But I have come to understand that it came in part as a gift to me, to teach me important principles that the Lord wanted me to know. That experience reinforced for me in a very powerful way the fact that we teach and learn on multiple levels. I can see at least three. At Level 1 we teach and learn facts, techniques, theories, and concepts. At Level 2 we learn and teach how to solve problems, how to make decisions, how to create new meaning and understanding by applying what we learn at Level 1. But Level 3 is deeper. At Level 3 we teach and learn about ourselves, about our strengths and weaknesses, about who we are, what we believe, what we stand for. We learn about character, and values, and what matters most. In that class, we got way beyond Level 1, deep into Level 2, and we began to address Level 3. Each student who walked out of that class learned that principle—and one other: they learned that there is no limit to what we can accomplish if we work together. The very smartest student in that class walked into that class with, at most, one-quarter of what the class as a whole produced. And the teacher learned too. I taught the case I had prepared. But what we experienced went far beyond what I had prepared. I learned that day that the classroom can be a place where “my grace shall attend you” as the Savior promised.
The last story happened recently after I had become dean. It taught me the power of a community and that the grace of the Savior often works through those around us to bless our lives. One day I had a discussion with one of my faculty colleagues. She had not been doing well, and she came to see me. She explained to me that there was a great deal of stress in her life and many difficult demands on her time. Her mother was dying of cancer and had been released from the hospital to spend her last few weeks with her family in my colleague’s house. On top of her two teenage sons, this was a heavy load to bear. I thought about her situation over the next few days. As I reflected, something our bishop had said about living the gospel in the community came to my mind. I had the impression that I should talk to my colleague about the Relief Society and visiting teaching. At the very same moment, I also had the thought that I should be careful not to impose anything on her. But I felt strongly that it was the right thing to do.
Not long after I had this impression, I ran into her on the sidewalk outside my office. I told her that I had been thinking about our conversation and that I had the solution to her situation. She said, “Really? What’s the solution?” I said, “You need visiting teachers.” She naturally asked me, “What are visiting teachers?” I then explained the Relief Society and visiting teachers. Her eyes lit up, and she said, “That is exactly what I need.” I told her that if she would like some I could make it happen. She said she would be delighted. So I called up our inspired bishop (my colleague lives in our ward) who readily agreed. Our Relief Society president, Melanie Marcheschi, assigned herself and a woman named Charlene Miner. Charlene and my colleague became dear friends. And Charlene was enormously helpful. Here’s one example: on the day that the mother died, at the very moment she passed away, Charlene rang my colleague’s doorbell, having come on an impression that she should stop by. Charlene is a physician. She just stepped into the house and literally took over. She arranged for the mortuary, signed the death certificate, and made all necessary arrangements. Over the next several days, Melanie and Charlene arranged for meals, made sure the house was clean, and gave my colleague wonderful support.
This was a wonderful story, but it was not over. Charlene and Melanie continued to visit my colleague and continued to bless her life. Not long after her mother died, my colleague’s oldest son committed suicide. He had been struggling with terrible depression and finally took his life. In that time, Charlene Miner was literally a lifeline. She brought peace, and comfort, and friendship and, ultimately, hope to one who was suffering deeply. All through these experiences Charlene and Melanie taught my colleague gospel principles and brought the Spirit of the Lord into that home. It is so clear to me now, that the Lord was watching over my colleague.
That part of the story was inspiring, but very sad. It gets better. Charlene married later in life and began having children not long after she became my colleague’s visiting teacher. I believe that in part through Charlene’s example, and through long discussions, my colleague decided to have more children. About a year later she gave birth to twin girls. What a miracle has been wrought in her life. She went through a dark, difficult period; but through the ministry of faithful visiting teachers, she came through it and has been renewed. She has learned so much in this time. And I can tell you today, that my colleague is not only happier, but also far more effective in her work at the school. She has just blossomed. It is wonderful to see.
That experience, and many, many others, has taught me that the Savior’s grace may find expression in a learning community—a community in which people care about and invest in each other. But, of course, you already know this. You have the Spirit of Ricks at BYU–Idaho. Sue and I look forward with great anticipation to becoming part of this community. There is a yearning in our hearts to experience, and contribute to, and enjoy with you the Spirit of Ricks at BYU–Idaho.
As I bring my remarks to a close, I would like to speak specifically to the students who are here. My dear young brothers and sisters, a great responsibility rests upon you to build the kingdom of God. Look ahead for a moment with the eye of faith. The Church is growing and flourishing in the world in a wonderful way. But if you could see its future the way the Lord sees it, if you could just catch a glimpse of that future through His eyes, you would see that there is much, much more to be done. And there is much for you to do. It is so important to see with the eye of faith, to see what is possible and to comprehend the great work of the Lord in the earth, and what is ahead for you in His kingdom. To help you remember to do that, I would like to leave with you today something that my dad taught me. My father passed away in June of 2001. He was a kind and gentle man, and a great leader. My dad was a cowboy. He grew up in Southern Utah; he loved horses, and he loved to ride. There is a saying he taught us that captures much about the land he loved, and much about the spirit of leadership that was such an important part of his life. The saying is: ride the high country.
My dad knew that we live our lives in the valleys, but we don’t always have to ride there. We can ride the high country where the light is bright, and the sky is deep and blue, and where it seems you can almost ride forever. The meaning of this saying is: set your sights high. Get up out of the valleys and the shadows of everyday life and ride the high country. Soak up the light that is there, and let the wind blow in your hair, let your dreams soar, let your spirit for life, and for living, and for making a difference run free.
Now, my dad knew that you have to come back down to the valley and get to work to make those dreams come true. But it is good to ride the high country. It is good to have an eternal perspective. It is good to see that we are part of the great unfolding work of the Lord Almighty.
Listen to the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1842 as he described this great latter-day work:
. . . the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.[4]
I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, the great prophet of the Restoration who ushered in the dispensation of the fullness of times. The Prophet Joseph saw our day—he saw you—and he rejoiced at your faith and your righteousness. He prophesied that the Church would go forward boldly, nobly, and independent, because he saw us. This university also will go forward boldly, nobly, and independent. I believe this university was established by revelation. And it will go forward as part of the building of the kingdom. We are the ones the Lord has called to carry that work forward boldly, nobly, and independent. This is our day. This is our time to stand for truth and righteousness.
I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is the light and the truth. He is the sure foundation on which we may build and learn and grow. Truly, his grace will attend us, in our hearts and minds, in our classrooms, and in our community.
I know the Church is true. I know that Gordon B. Hinckley is the prophet of God. May God bless us to seek learning diligently by study and by faith. I know if we do so, the grace of the Savior will attend us and the God of heaven will pour out knowledge upon us. I pray that we may all seek that grace and that knowledge, that we may be trusted and faithful servants of the Lord all the days of our lives. I know that if we do so, we will build this university, we will build the Kingdom of God, we will find joy and peace in this life and eternal life in the kingdom of our Father. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Alma 17:2-3
[2] Alma 26:11-12
[3] Doctrine and Covenants 64:33
[4] Statement of the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Wentworth Letter, written March 1, 1842; see History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 540